Description
These Crispy Ground Beef Tacos offer a delightful combination of seasoned beef, melted cheese, and crunchy fried tortillas for a satisfying Mexican-inspired main course perfect for taco night.
Ingredients
Scale
Beef Mixture
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 small onion, finely diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon oregano
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/3 cup water
Taco Assembly
- 8–10 corn tortillas
- 1 cup shredded cheddar or Mexican blend cheese
- Vegetable oil for frying
Toppings (Optional)
- Shredded lettuce
- Diced tomato
- Sour cream
- Salsa
- Sliced jalapeños
- Chopped cilantro
Instructions
- Cook the beef and onion: In a skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef and finely diced onion together, stirring occasionally, until the beef is fully browned and the onion has softened, about 6–8 minutes. Drain any excess fat from the skillet.
- Add seasonings and simmer: Stir in the minced garlic, tomato paste, chili powder, cumin, paprika, oregano, salt, and pepper, coating the meat evenly. Pour in the water and let the mixture simmer gently for 2–3 minutes until the sauce thickens. Remove from heat.
- Warm the tortillas: Heat the corn tortillas briefly to make them pliable and easy to fold without cracking.
- Assemble the tacos: Spoon a portion of the beef mixture onto one half of each tortilla, then sprinkle with shredded cheese. Fold the tortilla over the filling to create a taco shape and press gently to seal the edges.
- Fry the tacos: Heat 1–2 tablespoons of vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Carefully place the folded tacos into the hot oil and fry for 2–3 minutes per side, or until they are golden brown and crispy. Work in batches if necessary to avoid overcrowding.
- Drain and serve: Remove the crispy tacos from the skillet and transfer them to a paper towel-lined plate to drain excess oil. Serve immediately with your choice of toppings such as shredded lettuce, diced tomato, sour cream, salsa, sliced jalapeños, and chopped cilantro.
Notes
- To make a lighter version, bake the assembled tacos at 425°F (220°C) for 10–12 minutes, flipping once halfway through baking.
- Add refried beans or cooked rice to the beef mixture to extend the filling and feed more people.
- Flour tortillas can be used if preferred, but corn tortillas yield a superior crispy texture when fried.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Mexican-Inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 tacos
- Calories: 410
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 480mg
- Fat: 24g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 28g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 22g
- Cholesterol: 60mg
